Five players to grab for Week 24.

Here are some teams to target and avoid for the next week or two, several players to target that may be available in your league as well as teams that play a light schedule in the upcoming week.

San Jose Sharks = Target

Games: 6 (3H/3A)

Favorable Matchups:

    – vs. Washington

        > 8^th worst defensive team

        > 10^th worst penalty kill

        > 4^th most shots allowed per game

    – @ Edmonton

        > 3^rd worst defensive team

        > 6^th most shots allowed per game

        > C'mon, it's Edmonton

    – @ Colorado

        > 7^th worst penalty kill

        > 5^th most shots allowed per game

        > 18 goals allowed in last four games (4.50 GAA)

    – vs. Edmonton

        > See above

The Sharks snapped a six-game winning streak in which they scored 23 goals on Tuesday with a 3-2 loss to the Panthers.  That's a 3.83 goals per game average, almost a whole goal over their season average of 2.94.  I'd expect them to put up something in between those two numbers for the next couple weeks.  So you can count on Logan Couture, Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to be worth their draft spot during your fantasy playoffs.

Nashville Predators = Consider

Games: 6 (3H/3A)

Favorable Matchups:

    – vs. Colorado

        > See above

    – vs. Buffalo

        > 6^th worst defensive team

        > 2^nd most shots allowed per game

        > 17 goals allowed in past five games, all losses (3.40 GAA)

    – vs. Washington

        > See above

The Preds have not been putting up big goal totals lately with just two goals combined in their past three games.  Nashville isn't exactly a haven for goal-scoring but they are better than they have been recently.  With Calgary, Colorado, Buffalo and Washington scheduled on the horizon, I'd expect more from Mike Fisher, Shea Weber, Patric Hornqvist and company.  A lot of Nashville players have low ownership percentages so if Nashville's schedule fits your current roster, they could be a sneaky pickup for the playoffs.

Washington Capitals = Beware

Games: 5 (3H/2A)

Unfavorable Matchups:

    – @ San Jose

        > 4^th best defensive team

        > 5^th best penalty kill

        > 5^th fewest shots allowed per game

    – vs. Los Angeles

        > Best defensive team

        > 3^rd fewest shots allowed per game

        > Jonathan Quick: 1.72 GAA & .929 SV% since Sochi

    – vs. Boston

        > 2^nd best defensive team

        > 10^th best penalty kill

        > 12 goals allowed in last nine games (1.33 GAA)

I listed the Capitals as a "Beware" team last week as well, but the Caps' offense was actually a lot better than I thought it would be.  They put up four goals on Vancouver (thanks Eddie Lack) and Toronto (thanks James Reimer) and three on Anaheim.  That Anaheim game was just the start of the part of the schedule I was warning you about though.  After Thursday's game, next up is San Jose, Los Angeles, Boston, Nashville and Dallas.  That's Antti Niemi, Jonathan Quick, Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne and Kari Lehtonen.  Slightly better than Lack and Reimer.

Winnipeg Jets = Avoid

Games: 6 (1H/5A)

Unfavorable Matchups:

    – @ San Jose

        > See above

    – @ Los Angeles

        > See above

    – @ Anaheim

        > 7^th best defensive team

        > 8^th fewest shots allowed per game

The Jets are faced with the same daunting task that Washington is in the middle of right now: The dreaded West Coast swing from hell.  Winnipeg has shown they can score in bunches with a 7-2 win over Dallas on Sunday and a 5-4 win over Colorado on Wednesday.  However, they were shutout the last time they played San Jose, scored only one goal the last time they faced Los Angeles but did manage three goals the last time they played Anaheim.  So there is hope!  Temper your expectations for Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, Evander Kane and Andrew Ladd (probably when you most need these guys – fantasy playoffs!).

Possible Pickups

Here's a list of some players, owned in less than 30% of Yahoo leagues, to target for the upcoming Monday to Sunday schedule.

Tampa Bay: Tyler Johnson (26%) – Seven points in his past eight games to go with 14 shots and 43 faceoff wins.  Tampa has slid Steven Stamkos to the wing so Johnson is the lucky guy that gets to center Stammer.

Nashville: Patric Hornqvist (12%) – Only two points in his past four games but a whopping 17 shots in the same span.  Nashville is a team to consider this week and if Hornqvist maintains those shot totals, some are bound to start going in.

NY Rangers: Derick Brassard (28%) – Pointless for eight games and then puts up two goals, an assist, +4, four hits, six faceoff wins and three shots (in one game).  Kind of extreme, if you ask me.  But he does have Martin St. Louis riding shotgun, so the potential is there.

Ottawa: Milan Michalek (10%) – Ottawa is in shambles right now, but they do have plenty of talent on that roster, as evidenced by their 17 goals in their past five games.  Michalek skates with Jason Spezza and newly-acquired Ales Hemsky at evens and on the man advantage.  Too much talent on that line to not put up points.

San Jose: Matthew Nieto (1%) – Six points in his last six games, +4 and 11 shots to go with that.  Skating on a line with Couture and Marleau does wonders for your stat totals.

Light Day Targets

Want to know what teams to target based on their schedule landing on light days for the upcoming Monday to Sunday schedule?

Week: Monday, March 24^th through Sunday, March 30^th

Monday: 12 teams

Tuesday: 20 teams

Wednesday: 6 teams

Thursday: 20 teams

Friday: 12 teams

Saturday: 22 teams

Sunday: 12 teams

Your typical schedule.  Kind of good to see the NHL not getting crazy when our fantasy playoffs are going on.  I'm sure they care a lot about our fantasy matchups!

So what teams have a good schedule for the light days?